Your local coffee shop is the perfect place to kick back with friends, catch up on work, or brainstorm ideas for a new startup. What many people don’t know, however, is that it’s also the perfect place for cybercriminals to intercept every bit of information that you send out to the Internet. While you sip on that skinny chai latte, a hacker is also pouring himself a shot of your data — credit card information, login credentials, user names and passwords, important emails, and more.

If you’re one of those people who treats coffee shops like their second home or office, using a VPN is a no-brainer. Of course, it goes beyond keeping you safe on Public WiFi. It blocks online trackers, and basically gives you greater security and privacy on the web.

In short, it’s a must-have for anyone who constantly hops on the Internet, which is pretty much everybody. However, not all VPNs are created equal, so choosing the best one can be quite a challenge. This is particularly true for those who don’t know the first thing about encryptions, protocols, and whatnot. This is why we have rigorously tested and reviewed the most popular VPNs so you can pick the best one out there.

So what exactly did we look for? Here are some factors that influenced our list of the top VPNs for 2024.

Security features: At the very least, it should run on military-grade encryption AES-265 bit to secure your web traffic. We also looked for VPNs that offer a variety of protocols to address different needs for speed and security — L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, PPTP, OpenVPN, and WireGuard.

Privacy Policies and Practices: Nobody reads the fine print, which can be a grave mistake when choosing a vendor you are entrusting with your personal information. This is why we took the time to read each provider’s privacy policy page. The VPN products on our page have strict zero-log policies, no history of data breaches or unscrupulous marketing, and shady ownership.

Speed: We tested every VPN and made sure that it’s fast enough for seamless browsing, gaming, uploading and downloading files, video conferencing, and any other speed-intensive online activities.

Server locations: How many servers are there? Where are the servers located? This consideration is important because an extensive server network means less congestion and greater bandwidth, ergo faster speeds.

Simultaneous device connections allowed: How many devices can you protect under a single subscription? Most VPNs would let you connect up to 5 devices at a time. Some of our top choices offer unlimited simultaneous connections.

Cross-platform functionality: Will it work on your desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, and tablet? Is it compatible with major platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS? Does it support other devices such as gaming consoles and routers? We also considered factors such as ease of use, user-friendly interface, and setup guides.